There are two main reasons I’m supporting John Adams to become Virginia’s next Attorney General.
First, he can and will beat Mark Herring. John’s record stands in stark contrast to that of Mark Herring’s. John has never run for political office and has spent a significant part of his life in public service. From his days as a United States Naval Officer to clerking on the Supreme Court for Justice Clarence Thomas to serving as a federal prosecutor, John has demonstrated that service comes natural to him. We don’t need another career politician in the Attorney General’s office, and we must nominate someone who can beat Mark Herring.
As Attorney General, Herring has declared war on both our United States Constitution and Virginia’s Constitution. By refusing to recognize the Second Amendment rights of concealed carry permit holders from other states, Herring ignored the Second Amendment and made us less safe until his actions were reversed by his own liberal Governor. And by refusing to defend Virginia’s marriage amendment in court, Herring directly attacked Virginia’s Constitution despite a majority of Virginians supporting it at the ballot box.
This week’s travesty of justice—with Hillary Clinton clearly violating federal statutes and getting off scott free once again—illustrates in grim detail the crucial importance of stopping the lawless Clinton/McAuliffe/Herring assault on our constitutional liberties. Virginia cannot afford another four years of Mark Herring’s open war against our freedom, and I’m confident that with John’s background on the Supreme Court and the pro bono work he’s done for the Little Sisters of the Poor and Hobby Lobby that he will be a staunch defender of our constitutional rights.
This leads me to the second reason I am supporting John Adams. He truly understands the job of Attorney General. While some like to call the Attorney General the “top cop,” the Attorney General’s real role is to be the chief defender of our federal and state constitutions, and be a stop gap between an out-of-control, ever-growing, out-of-touch federal government and the Commonwealth’s sovereignty.
As someone who has litigated numerous constitutional cases myself, I want an Attorney General who understands and will defend our constitutional rights. As Mark Herring has demonstrated, the Attorney General’s position is no place for someone who puts his own political agenda above defending the laws of Virginia. Likewise, it is no place for on-the-job training. Elected experience and prosecutorial experience is great, but we do not need another career politician as Attorney General; we need a conservative, constitutional lawyer, and that’s exactly what John Adams is. As someone who manages a large department with over sixty attorneys in one of the nation’s largest law firm, he is the only one who has the experience and proven record to be an effective Attorney General, leading an office of 260 attorneys, on day one.
Like Justice Clarence Thomas, I am confident that John Adams shares his dedication to understanding and defending the original intent of our Founding Fathers. Adams is an experienced constitutional lawyer, with a track record to prove that he will be a tireless defender of our civil liberties, defend the laws of Virginia, and push back against federal government overreach.
If you’re tired of career politicians like Mark Herring shredding the very fabric of our liberty, I hope you will join me in supporting John Adams as the next Attorney General of Virginia.
Rick Boyer is an attorney, and the former Chairman of the Campbell County Republican Committee. He has also previously served on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors.
30 comments
[…] The Adams campaign is touting impressive levels of support from a wide variety of elected officials and party leaders, including Sen. Dick Black (R-Loudoun), Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment (R-James City), and Speaker Bill Howell (R-Stafford). This comes after previously announced support from U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), and a number of other conservatives, including conservative stalwart Rick Boyer. […]
You lost me when i read “United States Naval Officer ”
Forget it.
I didn’t write this post to slam Rob Bell or anyone else. Except Mark Herring of course. I just happen to like John Adams and think he would be great for the job. No disrespect to Rob or Chuck Smith whatsoever.
I would caution us all against getting too worshipful of any politician.
Agreed. We have good candidates for 2017. Let’s have a substantive debate about the issues, backgrounds, resumes, etc. and let it play out.
I work at McGuireWoods and have known John for years. I will never vote for him. You all think he is some kind of gift to the legal profession but you have no idea what people think who have to work with him.
You are a VCN Mike Thomas ally too. IP’s dont lie. Its ok “Nope”, I won’t expose your identity.
I know and respect Rick but have a lot of issues with this post. Rob is the clear choice here. He is the proven conservative, with a demonstrated record that we can trust. On the other hand, John comes from a large international law firm that is often referred to as the “shadow government” and frequently operates behind the scenes through its lobbying efforts. Who do we want–a proven grassroots conservative we can trust, or a guy who parades in with a lot of lobbyist money and Establishment endorsements and tells us he’s a “better choice in the general election?” We’ve been down this road before.
Also, speaking of the grassroots, I understand that John and his campaign team are the ones who have been working behind the scenes (in true McGuireWoods style) to influence the local elections for State Central. So, he wants us to believe he can win the general election, but he can’t win a convention. Do I have that right? Ok.
Lastly, the argument that John is a good lawyer and therefore somehow better than Rob is a red herring. I know multiple people in the Richmond community who have said that John isn’t an impressive lawyer and has gotten himself into very tight spots in some cases. He isn’t particularly well liked.
Rob offers a clear, conservative, and proven voice. We need him. We can’t afford rookies controlled by lobbyists.
Adams is a nice guy, I’ve met him a few times but you are right. Rob has earned this one. What’s interesting is that Adams really is getting the “establishment” gang out for him. Glen Sturtevant and Chris Peace are endorsing him soon. Going against Rob and the grassroots. Interesting…
Rob’s biggest supporter is the Speaker and he’s the one who gave us the largest tax increase in history a few years ago. Rob has the support of nearly the entire caucus because the Speaker refuses to loosen his grip and most are scared to support anyone else. If the Speaker isn’t the definition of establishment, then who is? HOD members are scared to cross swords with Norment who demands conformity with his forthcoming Bell endorsement.. Name one HOD member with the courage to buck the boss. NAME ONE.
TurboAdams, why are you so worked up over Adams? You must be a lobbyist that he’s promised a job to if he wins (which won’t happen).
A swing and a miss. I’m disgusted with the establishment ramming candidates through despite the grassroots. Beating Herring is job #1 and Bell lacks the comfortable distance from the speakers influence that I hoped to see. Rob Bell is a nice guy, this is not personal, but he is the insider the democrats prefer to to have in the general this fall when the states appetite is for a seasons outsider ready to his the ground running without the influence of the speaker and a few other “influencers” who are already whipping the house into ine over this one race.
Sailor418 Why are you going out of your way to smear John Adams. Again I am a 12 year pro-Convention veteran of the SCC and a senior political advisor on the Adams campaign. Where is the proof of our lobbying efforts for a primary?
When are the Sturtevant and Chris Peace endorsements being announced? Won’t they be outliers in the General Assembly? Are most going for Rob?
I am not sure it matters much to the conservative grassroots how many elected members of the General Assembly endorse in these statewide races.
It apparently matters to TurboCohenAdams. McGuireWoods and Adams apparently promised him a cushy patronage job if he fills message boards with drivel and gets more lobbyists to endorse the bought and paid for Adams!
John is a lawyer and has nothing to do with lobbyists. As a member of the General Assembly, Rob is the one who’s worked with lobbyists for the past 15 years and taken how many thousands of dollars from them? We can all have our own candidates, but we aren’t entitled to distorting the facts..
You said John paraded into the race with a bunch of lobbyist money and establishment endorsements. One, no one knows where his money is coming from because he has not ben required to report yet and two, this is the first public endorsement that has been rolled out so that’s total bullshit Sailor.
And Sailor or whatever your real name is, John Adams has done NOTHING to influence SCC elections so cut the crap. He favors conventions and is on record stating such all over the state.
McGuire Woods Consulting is a wholly owned subsidiary of McGuire Woods according to their website, Turbo. AND JOHN’S BROTHER IS A REGISTERED LOBBYIST for McGuire (And Democrat!)
You think John’s finance report will have no $5,000 and $10,000 from McGuire Woods lawyers and lobbyists? Make me a bet! You know nothing and are just a water carrier for the Adams campaign.
Adams is bought and paid for by McGuire Woods and its big corporations and lobbyists!
There’s no denying that he is trying to steal this election from the grassroots by changing State Central behind the scenes.
You guys are crazy but please–no more Maguire Woods. I’ve had enough of those guys. If Adams works for them then I’m voting for Bell.
Sailor, why the anonymity? And why the outright total lie stating that he is trying to steal this election by influencing SCC? Are you more full of crap than a constipated Rhino? Come on man, come clean. No pun intended buddy.
You are correct that John Adams works for a large international law firm-McGuireWoods. John works as a senior level partner in the legal division of that firm who has zero to do with the lobbying arm of McGuireWoods. If you want to make a connection to how our Commonwealth is governed by lobbyists perhaps you should look at the record of a 15 year member of the General Assembly who repeatedly works with McGuireWoods lobbyists, and like many other members, takes corporate and lobbyist money.
To your second point, I have been a leading conservative member on State Central for 12 years and have ALWAYS lobbied for and voted for Conventions. As a senior member of John’s political team I would be curious to know to whom you might be referencing when you write that members of our campaign team were “working behind the scenes to influence State Central races” ?
Finally, to your comment about John not being an “impressive lawyer” -John’s resume quite speaks for itself on this. Former Clerk for Justice Thomas, White House Counsel, US Attorney and partner in an international law firm. Remember when looking at resumes the office being sought here is that of VA Attorney General not a junior lawyer and Machachin and Gee.
Ok “Chris S.” So which “senior member” of the campaign team are you? Campaign manager Nick Collette or mega strategist Chris Jankowski? I’m guessing this is Nick, who has been dispatched to scurry around and try to hopelessly rebut all the valid criticisms of McGuire Woods Adams. Let’s get Next Gen GOP and ask them if anyone from Team Adams helped behind the scenes, especially up in Northern Virginia in the 8th district.
WAKE UP PEOPLE! Adams and the establishment is trying to steal this one again from us right in front of our eyes.
ADAMS–paid for by McGuireWoods through and through. Need evidence? He still works there and collects a fat paycheck from them!
Not Nick- Chris Shores, Senior Political Advisor. Acivist since 1993, former three term unit chair, former VA State Director Ted Cruz for President and former State Central Committee member representing CD 5 for three terms (12 years) often targeted for early retirement by Mike Thomas and company. An ally of Russ Moulton, Pat McSweeney, the Boyers, Ken Cucinelli and the list of right wing conspirators goes on…..I have been a leading voice for Conventions and conservatives on the SCC and CD 5 Committee for my tenure on both.
Chris has the credentials, by a long shot.
Yeah, not everyone is afraid to put their name behind what they write.
Chris S = Chris Shores
Nick Collette = Nick Collette
The rest of these claims are so preposterous they don’t warrant a response. John’s campaign team is about as conservative as it gets (I’ve been on the record as unequivocally supporting conventions since I’ve been involved in VA politics), and the next couple folks we bring on board will be indicative of that fact.
Nick– So is John Adams in favor of a convention or primary?
Unequivocally, without a doubt, 100% in favor of a convention. He’s made that clear at multiple meetings, in front of hundreds of people in every corner of the Commonwealth.
He could be for trial by combat. It won’t make a difference.
*at McEachin and Gee
Our cup runneth over! In Rob Bell and John Adams, we have two outstanding public servants.
Likewise, Chuck Smith is a tower of integrity, but probably lacks the backing to go the distance.
I like many folks in Virginia are looking forward to the Attorney General forums/debates. I had the opportunity to meet John Adams and ask a few important questions a few weeks back. He seems like a real smart guy and if he is the nominee, I will support him in 2017. My opinions below do NOT imply anything negative towards John and I truly say, let the best man win
That being said, we had a GREAT candidate for Attorney General during the convention process in 2013 who lost a close race to the eventual nominee. That candidate, we all know is Rob Bell and he went to the distance to support Mark Obenshain in the general and the aftermath that followed.
I have known Rob Bell for many years and he is incredibly smart and dedicated public servant. Rob has a proven track record of fighting for the Constitution and for Virginia families. During the last few years, Rob has been a shining example of doing things the right way and will be a great Attorney General for Virginia. Regardless of who wins the White House, we need an Attorney General who will uphold their sworn oath and fight the federal overreach from day one..